Thursday, March 8, 2012

Governor O’Malley Signs Marriage Equality into Law

Last week Governor Martin O’Malley (D) signed the Civil
Marriage Protection Act into law. “The way forward is always found through
greater respect for the equal rights of all,” said
the governor before he signed the bill, “If there is a thread that unites
all of our work here together, it is the thread of human dignity. …Lets sign
the bill." After Gov. O’Malley signed the bill, everyone was invited to a
public reception at the governor’s mansion. Though the bill doesn’t go into
effect until 2013, it truly is a historic moment for many Maryland families and
their LGBT loved ones.

Currently there are seven states and the District of
Columbia where same-sex couples can marry, with several other states working
hard toward achieving the same goal. New Jersey is working to over-ride the governor’s
veto on the proposed marriage law, and Washington and New Hampshire are working
to keep the right to marry for same-sex couples in place. In 2008, the California
State Supreme Court legalized marriage equality, allowing 18,000 same-sex
couples to legally wed. Unfortunately, voters petitioned to place the freedom
to marry for same-sex couples on the ballot, and the law was repealed,
resulting in myriad lawsuits. In February, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals ruled that Proposition 8 in California – which eliminated the right to
same-sex marriage – was unconstitutional.

Maryland may face a similar reality if opponents are
successful in placing a measure on the ballot that could potentially eliminate
the state’s newly gained marriage equality. The state’s voters are divided on the
issue. According to a January 2012 poll by the Washington Post, 50% of Maryland
voters supported civil marriage for same-sex couples, while 44% were opposed.
Since the governor has signed the bill, opponents will now need to collect
56,000 signatures to place the measure on the ballot, according to the MD State
Board of Elections. A third of these signatures would need to be submitted by
May 31 with the rest of the necessary signatures being submitted by June 30. If
all the signatures are collected it will be up to the
people of Maryland to decide whether same-sex couples will be able to marry.

Take Action:
If you live in Maryland, please be sure to encourage those in your communities
to decline to sign this petition. The opposition needs 56,000 signatures to put
the marriage law on the public ballot.

It is time that Maryland State makes marriage equality
the law in our state – liberty and justice for all – no exceptions.

1 comment:

There's a Divorce attorney in West Palm Beach who's really in favor of passing the marriage equality law cause she thinks that it could really lessen the number of married couples who are filing divorce.